If he would have been addressing his disciples then one might be able to stretch.......... to the Witness teaching. But he is clearly addressing the Pharisees. Sometimes I am angry at myself for believing the Witnesses sometimes I am angry at them.
Posts by zarco
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zarco
If you note John 9:40, you will see that Jesus is addressing the Pharisees. In this context he states "I have other sheep" - obviously he is talking about Gentiles to a Jewish audience.
It is frustrating to see the Witnesses distorting such a simple scripture.
Best.
Zarco
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Why do some leave and others stay?
by zarco instartfragment.
the following is partly based on comments from the book the gnostic gospels on page 123.. why do some leave and others stay?.
some seek their own interior direction, they reject religious institutions as a hindrance to their progress.
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zarco
The following is partly based on comments from the Book The Gnostic Gospels on Page 123.
Why do some leave and others stay?
Some seek their own interior direction, they reject religious institutions as a hindrance to their progress. I think I am tending to viewing the JW religion has a hindrance in my quest for understanding and progress.
Others willingly participate in religious institutions, regarding the religious institution as and instrument for their own self -discovery. Or more likely, for a Witness, as a social instrument to keep family and other social ties intact. It is understandable that it is so difficult to leave friends and family. It is sad that one must choose between current relationships and other choices.
Zarco
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"I Don't Know is my Belief"
by zarco inon another thread, ak-jeff shared an interesting perspective........ "i don't know is my belief.. .
i care.
but typically, i get no answers when i ask.
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zarco
Thanks, AllTimeJeff. "I don't need to know or have all the answers. I am at peace with what I don't know, as well with what I do know."
I hope to know what I don't know, or at least to get a reasonable approximation...... At times the amount of things I do not know is so voluminous that what I do know I know pales in comparison.
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Where are All of the JWs in Fresno?
by jamiebowers inchurches got together to raise funds to pay this jw's mortgage and assist with building her a new house.
where were all of her fellow jws?.
http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/1150039.html.
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zarco
All too often the Witness response is to help the disadvantaged to assist them to apply for Government programs rather than to step in with real help. The Regional Building Committees will step in if you sign over an insurance check. But in this case, no insurance check was available- so no RBC. The generosity of Witnesses is limited to a few good individuals; it is certainly not a characteristic of the religion.
Zarco
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"I Don't Know is my Belief"
by zarco inon another thread, ak-jeff shared an interesting perspective........ "i don't know is my belief.. .
i care.
but typically, i get no answers when i ask.
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zarco
So, do you put the god of the bible on the same level as the Invisible Pink Unicorn on Pluto?
Who knows! You can't rule them out now can you!
Well at least the god of the Bible, real or not, has affected the beliefs and actions of people far more than the Pink Unicorn. Interestingly, the Gnostics (not all but many) thought the God of the bible was one messed up god - jealous and angry. The sought to know his father.
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"I Don't Know is my Belief"
by zarco inon another thread, ak-jeff shared an interesting perspective........ "i don't know is my belief.. .
i care.
but typically, i get no answers when i ask.
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zarco
Doubting Bro,
I just finished reading the Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels. A wonderful book describing competing beliefs among the orthodox and gnostics. She describes how many of the beliefs of the "orthodox" (the winner got to call themselves orthodox) religion is connected to their need for authority, to explain persecution and to develop one channel to god -all to the detriment of the individual.
On the other hand, for the majority of a gnostics life was a personal journey for knowledge, enlightenment and a personal relationship with God. This personal path conflicted with the "orthodox" path. Obviously, the "orthodox" path won and it is just in the 20th century that some of the early christain debate is now being made available with the translation and examination of the Nag Hammadi Library.
Like you, I do know that most, if not all, of organized religion is not God's channel of communication- certainly not the WTS. The gnostic quest was encouraging to me. Your goal to treat others in good ways to the best of your ability is admirable. I try my best to do the same. It seems though, that the individuals who willingly treat those Witnesses who are desperately in need of emotional and physical help are those who leave the WTS.
Maybe I have too high of an opinion of what we try to do, but I feel that the ones who remain in positions of responsibility will not and do not really care enough to take real action to assist needy Witnesses. They are focused on giving their talks and pleasing men and not doing the work of the Christ. I don't know if the Christ was just a man or the son of God, but all writings (bible and otherwise) seems to suggest that he looked after those who needed to be looked after.
Best.
Zarco
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"I Don't Know is my Belief"
by zarco inon another thread, ak-jeff shared an interesting perspective........ "i don't know is my belief.. .
i care.
but typically, i get no answers when i ask.
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zarco
On another thread, AK-Jeff shared an interesting perspective.......
"I don't know is my belief.
I care. But typically, I get no answers when I ask. I am not an unbeliever. I just keep looking to find how I can support being one. Yet all the believers just clam up and cover their ears as if I am blaspheming God. It is God I seek if he is to be found. Who wouldn't? Why does he want to make it a game of hide and seek? He is hiding - I am tired of seeking when he seems to be both everywhere and nowhere at the same time."
I shared his thought with a few current (safe) Witnesses. They said that is exactly how they feel. What about you?
Zarco
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Christianity did NOT borrow from pagan "Dying-Rising" God motifs
by yaddayadda init is a fallacy that the early christians weaved the tale of a dying and rising god-man on the loom of mystery religions.
the idea of the dying-rising god as a parallel to the christian concept of the death and resurrection of christ was popularized by james frazer in the golden bough, first published in 1906. scholar edwin yamauchi (1974; easter: myth, hallucination, or history?
) has observed that, although frazer marshaled many parallels, the foundation was very fragile and has been discredited by a host of scholars since frazers ideas were at the height of their popularity in the 1960s.
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zarco
Jeff,
Very well said. It is indeed so very hard. Why is it so difficult? With open minds maybe we shall find. A belief in a creator is all that remains. All else is in the category of "I dont know".
Zarco
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Ted Jaracz is not one of Christs Brothers Special Day Assembly Report
by zarco induring a recent special day assembly program, ted said that woman in a physically abusive marriage should submit to her husband so that eventually her husbands may respond to their submission and come to worship god.
my family was completely shocked.
can you imagine the culpability and responsibility of this man who claims to speak for the christ to encourage women to get beat up as way to encourage their abusive husbands to come into the truth.
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zarco
During a recent Special Day Assembly Program, Ted said that woman in a physically abusive marriage should submit to her husband so that eventually her husbands may respond to their submission and come to worship god. My family was completely shocked. Can you imagine the culpability and responsibility of this man who claims to speak for the Christ to encourage women to get beat up as way to encourage their abusive husbands to come into the truth. Is this what Christ would have encouraged? In the same talk while promoting the use of the Bible he told the audience that we should be like the Boreans and examine what is said from the platform, not to question but to confirm what is said. The arrogance of this man is beyond comprehension as he has the audacity to change the Bible’s message to suit his purposes. As usual he hid from the brotherhood before, during the lunch break and after the Assembly Day. Jesus, Paul and others would have been with the brotherhood to encourage and engage, not to hide away. This man is evil or an idiot. Christ like – not a chance. Zarco